Determination of the Gap Size of a Radial Gap

ABSTRACT

A method for determining the size of a radial gap between rotating and torsion-proof parts, particularly the parts of a turbomachine is provided. According to the method, an original signal emitted by a transmitter device located on the surface of the rotating part is received in a modified manner by a receiver device disposed on the torsion-proof part and is redirected to an evaluation unit. The evaluation device determines and displays the size of the radial gap from the received signal by determining the parameters of the trajectory of the rotating transmitter device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. Ser. No. 11/632,333 filed onJan. 17, 2008. This application is the US National Stage ofInternational Application No. PCT/EP2005/053157, filed Jul. 4, 2005 andclaims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims thebenefits of European Patent application No. 04016357.8 filed Jul. 12,2004. All of the applications are incorporated by reference herein intheir entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determination ofthe gap size of a radial gap between rotating and rotationally fixedcomponents, in particular between those of a continuous-flow machine.The invention also relates to a continuous-flow machine having anapparatus such as this.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Continuous-flow machines, such as compressors or turbines, haverotationally fixed stator blades arranged in rings and rotor blades,which are firmly connected to the rotor, which can rotate, of thecontinuous-flow machine, in each case alternately in the flow channel.The radial gaps are formed between the radially outer tips of the rotorblades and the boundary surface, which is located radially on theoutside, of the flow channel. Radial gaps are likewise formed betweenthe tips of the stator blades and the inner boundary surface of the flowchannel, which is formed by the outer surface of the rotor. Variousmethods are known for measurement of these radial gaps during operation.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,326,804 describes a method for radial gap measurementbetween the guide ring and the rotor blades of a turbine. A means whichreflects light and reflects a measurement light beam, preferably laserlight, is provided at each rotor-blade tip. The respectively reflectedlight beam is directed at a light spot position detector via a lenssystem. Its focus appears, as a function of the radial gap, at aposition in the detector from which the radial gap is determined. Inthis case, one measurement is carried out per revolution for each rotorblade.

Furthermore, DE 27 30 508 discloses an optical method for determinationof the distance between a stationary and a rotating component. A lightsource emits a conical light beam which is projected as a light spot ofdifferent size onto a light-intensive receiver as a function of the gapsize, and this light spot is evaluated for distance measurement.

Furthermore, patent specification DE 196 01 225 C1 discloses anapparatus for radial-gap monitoring for a turbine, in which ameasurement reference point for reflection of light is provided on aturbine blade, with the light being directed at the measurementreference point from a glass-fiber probe which is passed through theturbine casing. During operation of the turbine, the currently detectedintensity differences between the transmitted light and received lightare compared with the intensity differences determined in a referencemeasurement, and the size of the radial gap is calculated from thediscrepancy in the intensity difference between real measurement and thereference.

Furthermore, EP 492 381 A2 discloses a method for tip clearancemeasurement on turbine blades using an optical transmitter and receiver,with the receiver receiving the light that has been reflected from theturbine blades and, in this case, evaluating the timereflection-intensity profile.

This method is based on a transmitter and a receiver in the form of asensor being placed in the stationary system, that is to say in theouter boundary wall or in the casing, in order to use optical effects toidentify the rotating component, which is thus moving past the receiveror the sensor tip, and to determine the distance to it at this instant.

In general, these methods are characterized in that the receivers orsensors that are used cannot be miniaturized below a specific limit andthus have a mass which cannot be ignored. Furthermore, some of themethods require complex feed and transmission electronics.

These sensors cannot be mounted at the tip of a free-standing statorblade in a continuous-flow machine since a sensor such as this wouldhave a negative influence on the natural oscillation behavior of thestator blades. These stator blades could be caused to oscillate duringoperation, thus reducing the life of the blades.

It is often impossible to arrange sensors in the rotating system, orthis requires an unjustified high degree of complexity in order tosupply the generally complex electronics. If sensors, or in particularreceivers, are provided in the rotating system, a costly telemetryinstallation, which is susceptible to defects, may be required in orderto pass information out of the rotating system, and this increases thegeneral complexity.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

One object of the invention is to specify a cost-effective and reliablemethod and an apparatus for determination of the gap size of a radialgap between rotating and rotationally fixed components, which hassensors with a comparatively small mass and small volume.

A further object is for the apparatus and the method to satisfy generalrequirements such as insensitivity to pressure and temperature, a wideoperating range, that is to say dynamic range, with respect to thetemperature of use and the rotation speed, and/or not to require anyadjustment or calibration. A further object of the invention is tospecify the use of an apparatus such as this for monitoring of theradial gap.

The object relating to the method is achieved by the features of theclaims. Furthermore, the object relating to the apparatus is achieved bythe features of the claims. Advantageous refinements are specified ineach of the dependent claims.

One solution to the object relating to the method provides that, inorder to determine the gap size of a radial gap between rotating androtationally fixed components, in particular between those in acontinuous-flow machine, in which a source signal which is emitted as aradio wave from a transmitting device that is arranged on the surface ofthe rotating component is received by a receiving device, which isarranged on the rotationally fixed component, and is passed on to anevaluation device, which evaluation device uses the received signal todetermine the gap size of the radial gap, and to display this, bydetermination of the parameters of the path curve (trajectorydetermination) of the rotating transmitting device.

Another solution to the object relating to the method provides that, inorder to determine the gap size of a radial gap between rotating androtationally fixed components, in particular between those of acontinuous-flow machine, a source signal which is emitted as a radiowave from a transmitting device which is arranged on the rotationallyfixed component is reflected in a modified form by a reflectionstructure which is arranged on the rotating component, which isreceived, as a received signal, by a receiving device which is arrangedon the rotationally fixed component and is passed on to an evaluationdevice, and which evaluation device uses the received signal to evaluatethe change in comparison to the source signal in order to determine theparameters of the path curve (trajectory determination) of the rotatingreflection structure, in order to determine and to display the gap sizeof the radial gap.

Both solutions are based on the inventive idea that the gap size of theradial gap can be determined by determination of the parameters of thepath curve of a defined point which is arranged on the rotatingcomponent, that is to say by determination of its trajectory. Theposition of the receiving device is used as a stationary reference pointfor this purpose.

The distance, which changes all the time, between the rotating definedpoint (which may on the one hand be a transmitting device which isarranged on the rotating component or may on the other hand be thereflection structure) and the position of the receiving device as astationary reference point is recorded, at least at times, as a functionof the rotation angle of the rotating component. A function graph of themagnitude of the distance as a function of the rotation angle is derivedby the evaluation device (trajectory determination), from which thedesired parameter, specifically the minimum distance between therotating transmitting device and the receiving device that is arrangedin a rotationally fixed manner, is determined, and corresponds to theradial gap between the rotating component and the rotationally fixedcomponent.

Radio waves have the advantage over optical waves that they can beproduced, passed on, transmitted, received and processed further usingcomparatively simple electronic components. Furthermore, the use ofradio waves results in a particularly wide operating range, that is tosay dynamic range.

In one advantageous refinement, the signals are radio-frequency (RF)electromagnetic waves at a frequency in the range between 0.5 MHz and100 GHz, in particular at a frequency in the range from 100 MHz to 10GHz. The use of electromagnetic radio waves results in generalindependence from the medium that is located in the radial gap.Furthermore, comparatively small and low-mass transmitting/receivingcomponents with high resolution, a wide dynamic range and which costlittle are available for electromagnetic radio waves, and these allow adifferentiating measurement of the radial gap at high rotation speeds,such as those which occur during operation of a continuous-flow machine.

According to a further advantageous refinement, in order to determinethe distance between the rotating point and the reference point, theevaluation device evaluates the field strength and/or the intensity ofthe received signal. The revolving, that is to say rotating,transmitting device cyclically moves towards and away from thestationary receiving device on its circular path, so that a continuouslyvarying field strength or intensity of the received signal is recordedby the receiving device, as a function of the distance between the twodevices. In this case, the field strength and the intensity of thereceived signal are strongest at the point where the transmitting andreceiving devices are opposite, forming the shortest possible distancebetween them. When electromagnetic waves are used as signals, the fieldstrength is evaluated.

Instead of the transmitting device, a reflection structure can beprovided on the rotating component, which reflects a source signal(which is transmitted as a radio wave from the transmitting device whichis now mounted in a rotationally fixed manner) to the receiving device(which is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner) and in this caseresults in manipulation, that is to say variation, of the source signal,and this is identified by the evaluation device. Apart from this, theevaluation device is equipped analogously to the first solution.

The trajectory determination, that is to say the parameters of the pathcurve of a defined point on a rotating circular path, can alternativelybe determined by evaluating the frequency shift in the received signalcaused by the Doppler effect, instead of by measurement of the intensityand/or field strength. If the transmitting device is moving, the sourcesignal that is transmitted from it as a radio wave is modulated by theDoppler effect.

According to one advantageous proposal, the evaluation device filtersout the Doppler frequency, that is to say the difference frequency ofthe received signal, by frequency demodulation from the received signal.The gap size of the radial gap can be determined from this on the basisof the time duration of the change in the difference frequency.

The first solution to the object relating to the apparatus providesthat, in order to carry out the method as claimed in the claims, fordetermination of the radial gap between rotating and rotationally fixedcomponents, in particular between those in a continuous-flow machine, atransmitting device which transmits radio-frequency waves is arranged onthe rotating component and a receiving device which receivesradio-frequency waves is arranged on the rotationally fixed component,and is connected to an evaluation device for communication purposes.

In one advantageous refinement of the apparatus, the transmitting devicecan be supplied with energy by means of an inductive coupling from therotationally fixed component. As an alternative to this, thetransmitting device can be supplied with energy by a battery, which islikewise arranged on the rotating component. This allows thetransmitting device to be supplied with energy without any contact andthus without wear. The design of the economic transmitting deviceresults in the capacity of a battery being sufficient to supply thetransmitting device with energy over a plurality of years until, forexample, the servicing of the continuous-flow machine allows the rotorto be exposed, and thus allows the battery to be replaced.

A second solution to the object relating to the apparatus provides that,in order to carry out the method as claimed in for determination of theradial gap between rotating and rotationally fixed components, inparticular between those in a continuous-flow machine, a reflectionstructure, which can receive and transmit radio-frequency waves isarranged on the rotating component, and a transmitting and receivingdevice which processes radio-frequency waves is arranged on therotationally fixed component, which receiving device is connected to anevaluation device, for communication purposes.

The reflection structure is expediently formed by a dipole which isarranged on an insulated mount layer and has an RF diode, with thedipole preferably being in the form of a non-linear, passive dipole. Thedipole receives the source signal transmitted from the transmittingdevice and uses the RF diode to transmit an electromagnetic wave atapproximately twice the frequency back, with this electromagnetic wavefurthermore being modulated by the Doppler effect, as a result of therotation. The receiving device filters the electromagnetic wave at twicethe transmission frequency out of the received signal, and passes thisto the evaluation device. The electromagnetic waves which are reflectedin any case from a metallic or planar surface of the rotating component,and which are at the same frequency as the source signal, are thereforeignored. The devices operate using radio waves whose frequencies are inthe range between 0.5 MHz and 100 GHz, preferably 100 MHz and 10 GHz.

The transmitting and receiving devices can be arranged as co-axially aspossible with respect to one another if the transmitting device and thereceiving device respectively have a transmitting antenna and areceiving antenna which respectively have a point-beam or a linear-beamcharacteristic.

The solution to the object of the invention relating to use proposesthat a continuous-flow machine is equipped with an apparatus as claimedin the claims, in which a method as claimed in the claims can be carriedout. This allows radial gaps to be monitored in the continuous-flowmachine, which is preferably in the form of a stationary gas turbine, inwhich these radial gaps can assume critical values in particular duringhot starting of the continuous-flow machine. Furthermore, an axialshift, which is carried out in order to improve efficiency, of the rotorin a continuous-flow machine which has a conical flow channel can becarried out particularly exactly. This results in the flow medium in thecontinuous-flow machine being carried correctly past the rotor blades inthe continuous-flow machine, allowing the flow losses caused by theradial gap above the blade tips in the flow medium to be minimized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained with reference to a drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 shows schematically, a measurement arrangement for determinationof the parameters of the relative path curve of a rotating point,

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of the distance function s=f(φ),

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the velocity function ds/d(φ),

FIG. 4 shows the difference frequency of a sound-wave signal, which hasbeen modulated by the Doppler effect, from a moving transmitting device,

FIG. 5 shows the difference frequency of an electromagnetic RF signal,which has been modulated by the Doppler effect, from a movingtransmitting device,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a continuous-flow machine inthe form of a gas turbine,

FIG. 7 shows an apparatus according to the invention for determinationof the gap size of the radial gap, and

FIG. 8 shows an alternative design for an apparatus according to theinvention for determination of the radial gap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 6 shows a continuous-flow machine 1 according to the invention, inthe form of a gas turbine with a compressor 3, a combustion chamber 5and a turbine unit 7. Rotor blades 13 are arranged on the rotor 9 of thegas turbine in the compressor 3 and, together with stator blades 11which are attached to the casing 10, compress the inlet air flow 15 inthe flow channel 6. The compressed air flow 15 is burnt in thecombustion chamber 5 with the addition of a fuel to form a hot gas 17,which is expanded on the stator blades 11 and on the rotor blades 13 inthe turbine unit 7, producing work. During the process, the rotor 9 isdriven, and drives not only the compressor 3 but also a process machine,for example an electrical generator.

FIG. 1 shows a detail of the measurement arrangement for the proposedtrajectory method. A transmitting device 22 rotates on a circular path Kabout the coordinate origin P(0, 0) of the Cartesian coordinate systemP(x, y), through which the rotation axis 2 of the rotor 9 of the gasturbine runs. By way of example, the transmitting device 22 may bearranged on the surface of the rotor 9, which forms the inner boundarysurface for the flow channel 6 of the gas turbine.

A receiving device 24 which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manneris in this case located outside the circular path K, for example at thefree end of a free-standing stator blade 11 in the gas turbine, which isopposite the inner boundary surface, forming a radial gap 18 (FIG. 6).

The distance s between the continuously varying position of thetransmitting device 22 and of the receiving device 24 is determined atleast at times. The minimum magnitude of the distance s is the distances₀ to be monitored and to be determined, and which is to be determinedfor the gas turbine as the gap size of the radial gap 18 between therotationally fixed and rotating components.

The rotation of the rotor 9 at a constant angular velocity results inthe time-resolved and position-resolved distance s being functionallyrelated to the rotation angle φ of the rotor 9 and the distance s₀, asfollows:

s=f(φ, s ₀)  (1)

which is illustrated at least partially in the diagram in FIG. 2. Thesection of the rotation angle φ under consideration extends from 86° to94°, on the assumption that the position of the receiving device 24,which is attached to the free-standing stator blade, is at the point P(0, y_(E)), that is to say the receiving device 24 is arranged on theordinate.

FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the distance s and the rotationangle φ for three different distances s₀ for a measurement arrangementin which the rotor 9 has a radius of r=0.5 m, thus resulting in threedifferent relative path curves. The three distance function graphs 26which result from this are illustrated in FIG. 2. Each distance functiongraph 26 has a relative minimum 27 in the determined path curve of thetransmitting device 24 at an angle of φ=90°.

Since the aim is to measure the distance s₀ during operation, it isexpedient not to measure the distance s, but to measure the velocity ofthe transmitting device 24 by means of the first derivative ds/d(φ) ofthe distance s.

The first derivative of the distance function illustrated in FIG. 2 isillustrated as a velocity function in FIG. 3. The rises in the velocityfunction graphs 28 have different gradients, depending on the particularminimum distance s₀. The velocity function graphs 28 flatten out to agreater extent, the greater the minimum distance s₀ is between thetransmitting device 22 and the receiving device 24 at an angle of φ=90°.

The gap size can be determined by determination of a necessary rotationangle Ay for which the velocity function graph 28 is located within aninterval [G_(u), G_(o)] which is defined by a lower velocity limit G_(u)and an upper velocity limit G_(o). The rotation angle Ay determined inthis way is proportional to the gap size of the radial gap 18,corresponding to the distance s₀. Because of the constant angularvelocity of the rotor 9, as is necessarily required for flow generationwhen using stationary continuous-flow machines, the rotation angle Δφcan be converted to a time period by means of a linear conversion.

Various signal forms, that is to say carrier media, and variousdetection methods can be used for distance measurement. Sound waves,ultrasound waves or electromagnetic radio waves are used as carriermedia. Intensity measurement in the case of sound waves on the one handor field-strength measurement in the case of electromagnetic radio waveson the other hand can be used as detection methods. Furthermore, theDoppler effect can be used as a detection method for both carrier media.

The detection method will be described in the following text withreference to the Doppler effect.

FIG. 4 shows the difference frequencies, which have been filtered out ofthe received signal, when using ultrasound-based transmitting andreceiving devices 22, 24. If the radial gap is determined, for example,using a transmission frequency of f₀=40 kHz, a radius of r=0.5 m and arotation speed of n=3600 rpm, using ultrasound-based transmitting andreceiving devices, then it can be seen that a useful received signal,which can be differentiated, can be expected only in the rotation anglerange of Δφ±2°. However, only about 4-6 oscillations occur in thisinterval when using a transmission frequency of f₀=40 kHz, so thatsufficiently accurate differentiation of the Doppler frequency functiongraphs 30 for use in a continuous-flow machine at a rotation speed ofn=3600 rpm is possible only to a limited extent. If radial gaps 18 haveto be monitored at relatively low rotation speeds, then thecost-effective use of ultrasound-based transmitting and receivingdevices 22, 24 may be adequate.

On the assumption of a constant wave propagation speed, analysis of theDoppler equation

$\begin{matrix}{f = \frac{f_{o}}{\left( {1 - \frac{v}{c}} \right)}} & (2)\end{matrix}$

when approaching, and

$\begin{matrix}{f = \frac{f_{o}}{\left( {1 + \frac{v}{c}} \right)}} & (3)\end{matrix}$

when moving away,

shows that the frequency shift to be expected, that is to say thefrequency interval in which the difference frequencies to be expectedare located, is proportional to the transmission frequency. Atransmission frequency that is as high as possible is thus advantageousin order to obtain a received signal which can be evaluated particularlywell.

If a radio-frequency (RF) transmitting and receiving device is usedinstead of the ultrasound-based transmitting and receiving device, forexample with a transmission frequency of f₀=435 MHz, this allowssufficiently accurate differentiation of the Doppler-frequency functiongraph 30 determined by the evaluation device. In consequence, Dopplerfrequencies which can be evaluated particularly well can in this case befiltered out of the received signal. For the chosen example, they have afrequency shift of [−280 Hz, 280 Hz].

In this context, FIG. 5 shows the Doppler-frequency function graphs 30with identical parameters from FIG. 4. The associated

gap size and thus the distance s₀ can be determined from the gradient ofthe respective Doppler-frequency function graphs 30′, 30″, 30′″, andfrom their gradients.

The transmission frequency of f₀=435 MHz chosen in the example islicensed for telemetry. Furthermore low-cost, functionally optimized andminiaturized transmitting/receiving components are commerciallyavailable as surface mounted devices (SMDs), and their masses arenegligible in comparison to a free-standing stator blade. Higherfrequencies are in this case desirable, and are also achievable.

The difference frequency can be obtained by frequency demodulation fromthe received signal. The determination of the desired gap size can bederived from the determination of the rotation angle Δφ, which can bedetermined from the time period in which the difference frequencyfunction graph 30 is located in the frequency interval of [−200 Hz, +200Hz]. By way of example, a signal processor can be used for signalevaluation.

A range of approximately 20 cm is expediently adequate for thetransmitting and receiving devices 22, 24, so that only extremely lowtransmission powers in the sub-mW range are required. This means thatthe transmitting device 22 can be expected to have a very low powerconsumption, thus allowing installation in the rotating system. Therequired feed energy can be injected into the rotating system withoutcontact being made (inductively). Alternatively, a battery supply usingcommercially available lithium cells is also feasible and allowsadequate operating times to be achieved. Furthermore, as a result of thelimited range, the radial gap is determined only at times.

It should be noted that, instead of the difference frequency, the fieldstrength of an electromagnetic signal or the intensity of a sound wavecan also be used in a similar manner to determine the distance functions=f(φ, s₀).

The technical implementation for determination of the distance functionwill be described in the following text on the basis of the Dopplereffect, since this occurs independently of the chosen signal form. Thetrajectory method is used for determination of the gap size for all ofthe technical implementations, based on the determination of thefield-strength profile, of the intensity profile or of the frequencyshift.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show, schematically, a plurality of configurations of ameasurement chain for determination of the gap size of a radial gapbetween a rotating and a stationary system, that is to say betweenrotating and stationary components.

FIG. 7 shows a refinement of the invention in which the transmittingdevice 22 including its energy supply is arranged on the rotatingsystem, that is to say the rotor. The transmitting device 22 has anenergy source 32, a frequency generator 34 and a transmitting antenna36.

The stationary system itself has a receiving antenna 40. Based on theDoppler effect, the receiving device 24″ has an FM demodulator 41 and anRF oscillator 42. If the field strength or the intensity of the receivedsignal is evaluated rather than the Doppler effect, the receiving device24′ has a field-strength detector 43 in addition to the receivingantenna 40.

The receiving device 24 is coupled to an evaluation device 48, in whichthe trajectory is determined.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative refinement. A combined transmitting andreceiving device 50 is arranged in a fixed position, and is connected toan evaluation device 48.

If the aim is to evaluate the difference frequency caused by the Dopplereffect to determine the gap size, the combined transmitting andreceiving device 50″ has an RF oscillator 42, a frequency generator 34and an FM demodulator 41 in addition to the transmitting and receivingantenna 51. If the detection method used comprises a field-strength orintensity measurement, the combined transmitting and receiving device50′ has a frequency generator 34 and a field-strength detector 43.

In order to vary the source signal, which is transmitted by thetransmitting and receiving device 50, at a frequency f_(s) by means ofthe rotating system, a reflection structure 52, for example anon-linear, passive dipole with an RF diode, is arranged on it and isarranged on an insulating layer or carrier layer which does not reflectelectromagnetic radio waves. The dipole receives the source signal,provided that it is in range of the transmitting and receiving antenna51. The non-linear dipole uses the RE diode to double the frequencyf_(s) of the received source signal, and transmits a signal at twice thefrequency f_(E) back to the receiving device as the received signal. Themovement of the dipole, on the circular path K modulates the signal thatis thrown back, so that the transmitting and receiving antenna 51 canreceive the received signal at twice the frequency and modulated by theDoppler effect. The receiving device 50 just extracts, that is to sayfilters out of the received frequency spectrum, the signal at twice thefrequency f_(E), and passes this to the evaluation device 48. Theevaluation device 48 uses the varying field strength or the varyingDoppler frequency of the received signal to determine the parameters ofthe path curve (trajectory determination), from which the gap size ofthe radial gap between the rotating and the stationary system orcomponent can be determined.

The reflections of the source signal which occur as a result of smoothsurfaces or in any other way and are essentially at the same frequencyas the source signal are filtered out or ignored by the receivingdevice.

The apparatuses according to the invention have the advantage that theycan be used in a temperature range from 0° C. to 450° C. Furthermore,the detection method is not dependent on the surface character, on thegeometric character or on the physical characteristics of the rotatingcomponent. In addition, the apparatuses do not require adjustment, andrequire calibration only after initial installation, with this thenbeing sufficient for the entire life of the apparatus.

The radial gap which exists between the tip of a free-standing statorblade and the rotor hub can thus be measured because of thecomparatively low-mass and small sensors. They can, of course, also beused when a reflection structure or a transmitting device is provided atthe tip of a rotor blade, free-standing or with a covering strip, andwhen at least the receiving antenna of the receiving device is providedon the outer boundary surface.

If, for example, each rotor blade in a rotor blade ring has atransmitting device, and/or a plurality of receiving antennas aredistributed over the circumference, this allows the gap size to bedetermined in an even better manner, and at the same time at a pluralityof locations.

1. A method for determining a radial gap size between a rotating and astationary components of a continuous-flow machine, comprising: emittinga source signal as a radio wave from a transmitting device arranged on asurface of the rotating component; receiving a modified form of thesource signal by a receiving device arranged on the stationarycomponent; transferring the modified source signal to an evaluationdevice; determining parameters of a path curve of the rotatingtransmitting device by the evaluation device based on the modifiedsource signal; and determining the gap size of the radial gap via theevaluation device based on the previously determined parameters of thepath curve of the rotating transmitting device.
 2. The method as claimedin claim 1, wherein the signals are radio-frequency electromagneticwaves at a frequency in a range between 0.5 MHz and 100 GHz.
 3. Themethod as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signals are radio-frequencyelectromagnetic waves at a frequency in a range between 1 GHz and 10GHz.
 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation deviceevaluates a field strength or an intensity of the received signal todetermined the parameters of the path curve.
 5. The method as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the evaluation device evaluates a frequency shift ofthe received signal due to a Doppler effect.
 6. The method as claimed inclaim 5, wherein the evaluation device filters out a Doppler frequencyfrom the received signal by frequency demodulation.
 7. The method asclaimed in claim 6, wherein the radial gap size is determined from atime duration of the Doppler frequency.